Kuwait to Digitise Labour Complaints and Ban Companies That Violate Work Permit Regulations from Issuing New Ones

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has announced plans to fully digitise and automate labour complaint procedures in the private sector. Under the new system, workers will no longer need to visit PAM’s dispute department in person, except when attending a hearing scheduled by investigators.  

According to local media, PAM stated that this initiative aims to safeguard migrant workers’ rights while also “enhancing Kuwait’s standing with international organisations focused on migrant workers and human rights.”  

The new electronic system will handle complaints related to unpaid dues—whether monthly salaries or end-of-service benefits—as well as passport and ID confiscation, requests to leave the country, and employer transfer requests, among other grievances.  

Currently, PAM’s website offers an online service for all registered workers to submit complaints, track cases, and inquire about absconding reports or employment status. However, workers must first visit PAM in person to register and update their phone number to receive login credentials. While information about the service is available in both English and Arabic, the system itself is currently accessible only in Arabic.

This move aligns with a broader regional trend of digitising worker rights procedures under the guise of efficiency. Last year, Kuwait’s PAM introduced an electronic service for handling labour disputes involving domestic workers.  

Migrant-Rights.Org has previously highlighted the challenges that come with digitising migrant worker affairs and complaint mechanisms. These include a lack of awareness, language barriers, limited tech literacy, and frequent technical failures that make electronic platforms unreliable or inaccessible. It is also important for government agencies and their service providers to have facetime with those they seek to help. The impersonal digital complaints does not help understand the depth of a problem or the many nuances of the issues workers go through.

Ban on Companies Violating Work Permit Regulations

On 19 February 2025, the Kuwaiti government issued Ministerial Order No. 1 of 2025, amending regulations on work permits. Under the new rules, companies will be barred from adding new permits, updating permit details (such as changes of address), hiring workers, or adjusting manpower estimates if they meet any of the following criteria:

• They have one or more inactive permits on file.
• They have one or more permits linked to a closed file.
• They have permits registered without a valid address.

The move comes as Kuwait intensifies its crackdown on visa trading, with the new immigration law also imposing strict penalties on the practice.